MDL’S TOP GEARS

MDL’s Premier MOST VALUABLE EMPLOYEE  Award recipient Mark Tatum This Team member is dedicated, hardworking, and passionate about their work. Mark is always willing to go the extra mile to help his colleagues and customers. He is an essential part of our Team, and we are so grateful for his contributions. Here are a few…

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Inside Sales Representative

Good Life Begins With A Good Company   Candidate Profile: We are looking for a highly motivated, conscientious self-starter with a positive attitude and a comprehensive understanding and passion for the car industry. As well as strong mechanical aptitude, that can multi-task and work effectively as a member of our team. MDL strives to have…

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CJ Pony Parts

Automotive Restoration & Performance Aren’t Just Hobbies. They’re What Drives Us. In 1985, two friends decided to form a company based on their shared passion for driving cool, classic Mustangs. Fast forward 30+ years and CJ Pony Parts is still all about the love of automotive restoration and performance. They’re now one of the oldest…

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HOW TO: Identify Driveshaft Components

…………………………………………………………………………….          Driveshafts with Flanges   When it comes to flanges in a driveline, there are a few things to consider like sizing, application & fitment. First, identify what type of flange we are dealing with.   How To Identify Universal Joints There are many different series of u-joints. MDL Supplies a…

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Warehouse Associate Position

Good Life Begins With A Good Company   About Us: Modern Driveline, Inc. (MDL) is a manual transmission conversion specialist located in Caldwell, Idaho. We engineer, develop, and sell supporting products needed to install 5 or 6-speed manual transmissions into a vintage, classic, custom, hot rod, or modern-day muscle car. Our specialty is transmission conversion…

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Mustangs & Tremec Manual Transmissions

BREAKDOWN OF MUSTANG TRANSMISSIONS FROM 1979 TO PRESENT   SROD (SINGLE-RAIL OVERDRIVE) The Single-Rail Overdrive, otherwise known as the SROD, is considered a “wide-ratio” 4-speed gearbox and features a smooth aluminum case with fully synchronized forward gears. The reverse was left unsynchronized. The input shaft is a 10-spline while the output shaft is a 28-spline.…

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Oldsmobile Muscle Cars

1966 Oldsmobile 442 W-30 In 1966 Oldsmobile upgraded the engine option for the 442 to a 400-cubic-inch V-8 with three two-barrel carburetors and introduced its first W-30 package. The standard 442, with a single four-barrel, was rated 350 hp. With tri-power induction, that rating jumped to 360 hp, which matched the GTO, and it pegged…

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Buick Muscle Cars

1965 Buick Riviera Gran Sport Some consider the first Buick Riviera, built from 1963 to 1965, to be the best-looking car General Motors has ever produced. And in the design’s final year it was perfected with hidden headlights and the availability of Buick’s first high-performance Gran Sport package—option code A9. Under the hood was a…

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The LOKAR Story

THE LOKAR STORY 1988, the year it all began – to date – a 32-year affair with manufacturing American Made hotrod parts. However, the heart of the company started well before that, when Skip Walls, a young teenager in the early ’60s was driving his first 1932 Ford 5-Window. Skip worked on, raced, and accumulated…

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TKO / TKX Oil info

TKO/TKX OIl Servicing your car’s transmission is an integral part of routine car maintenance, but even more crucial is making sure you use the right kind of oil and fluids. If you have a TREMEC TKX or TKO transmission, there are only a few oils or fluids recommended for use. Fill Location and Level Remember…

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T5 Specific information about oil

Tremec T5  This transmission requires just under 3-Quarts of oil. We recommend that the fluid in a TREMEC T-5 transmission should be changed after its initial 500 miles. The fluid should be changed every 30,000 miles after that   CAUTION Do not mix different brands or types of transmission lubricant in any transmission. DO NOT USE GEAR OIL IN THE…

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65-66 Mustang TKX

TKX Five Speed Single Overdrive Conversion up to 750hp We put a New Tremec TKX in a 1966 Mustang. The tunnel support was moved back 2-3/4″ then reattached to the floorpan & tunnel. Our crossmember & mount were used on the TKX as you can see it maintains the angle requires and we have great…

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TKX Five-Speed For The Generations Article by: Jim Smart

Modern Driveline and TREMEC for an improved fit, better performing five-speed transmission for your classic. The all-new TKX five-speed manual transmission leaves the gate with a terrific compact design, increased 600 ft/lb torque capacity, and buttery smooth shifts at high (8,000!) rpm, making it a great choice for your 1965-04 Mustang project.

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Overdrive transmissions Are a Great Thing.

Overdrive transmissions are a great thing. They enable you to significantly improve the gearing and acceleration of your car while maintaining gas mileage and highway cruise-ability. Unfortunately, overdrives, manual or automatic, weren’t offered in Ford vehicles until the late ’70s. But that doesn’t mean you have to be stuck with the non-overdrive C4’s. C6’s, and…

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Customer Assurance

      —————————————————————————– 5 & 6 SPEED CONVERSION SPECIALISTS —————————————————————————- MDL CUSTOMER ASSURANCE: Our focus is to ensure we meet customer expectations while doing our part to keep you and our staff safe. It’s critical that we all (customers and staff) work diligently to remain calm and keep our enthusiasm for the love of…

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2024 BOISE ROADSTER SHOW

Modern DriveLine is proud to be a part of The 50th Anniversary of the O’Reilly Auto Parts Boise Roadster Show returns Friday thru Sunday, March 10, 11 & 12, the show features many top hot rods, radical customs, wicked street machines, hot trucks, boats, classics, motorcycles and more.

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2024 DEL MAR NATIONALS

Modern DriveLine is excited to be attending the DEL MAR March 31 – April 2, 2023 show at the beautiful Del Mar Fairgrounds. It’s time for sun, palm trees, ocean breeze, and good-looking rides. Stop by our booth and say hello and be sure not to miss all the classics, wild customs.

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MAGNUM F Transmission

THE  GM  F-BODY  6-SPEED 1982-2002 TREMEC  Magnum-F™ 6-speed for fourth-generation Camaros and Firebirds. Consider Your Old F-Car T-56 Obsolete!          The long-awaited and highly-anticipated F-car-specific version of TREMEC’s popular Magnum 6-speed has finally arrived! Designed to replace T-56 transmissions in 1998-2002 GM F-bodies, the Magnum-F leverages TREMEC’s pervasive TR-6060/Magnum architecture in order to provide fourth-gen…

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Here’s How… To Get A light Clutch Pedal with MDL’s LF-Series Hydraulic clutch System

Here’s How… To Get A Light Clutch Pedal With Modern Driveline’s LF Series Hydraulic Clutch System   Modern Driveline’s LF Series Hydraulic Clutch Kits for classic cars make light work of a heavy pedal by letting fluid do the hard work mechanical Z-bar clutch systems have been doing for generations. Modern Driveline has taken the…

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TECH TALK: Modern Driveline T-56 Magnum XL Quick Swap

It is challenging for us at Modern Driveline to understand the engineering logic behind the Getrag MT-82 six-speed transmission in the 2005-16 Mustang (V-6) and Mustang GT (V-8). The factory-installed MT-82 employs a semi-remote shifter attached to the transmission tunnel tied to the transmission via a shifter rail that, at best, delivers sloppy shift performance…

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F-100 HYDRAULIC CLUTCH KITS

Hyd Clutch Master Kit, ’57-’72 F Series Truck LF Series Type 2  Modern DriveLine’s  ‘Light Foot’ series Hydraulic Master cylinder clutch cylinder kit uses the stock clutch pedal. Engineered to use the factory full swing of the pedal, for maximum leverage, it provides a light pedal effort and full control of the clutch, this translates to…

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TILTON ST SERIES CLUTCHES

SHOP FORDSHOP CHEVY .   MDL is Proud to carry the new range of TILTON ST-246 Twin Disc Clutches for the high-performance street market. ST-246 Clutch Kits…. Racing Technology applied to the Street. Since 1972, Tilton Engineering has been the leading supplier of small diameter racing clutches. Tilton racing clutches are world renowned for their…

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Customer Rides

      1966 Mustang 347 Stroker engine 500HP With mini tubs, T5 5-speed getting power to the ground, full front and rear Chassis Works subframe suspension sections with rack and pinion in front and 4-link in rear. The car drives amazingly. Built by Pro Speed in Virginia     1966 Sunbeam Tiger 5.0 Ford…

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Bob Ream equipped his 1964 Ford Falcon A/FX with a T56 Magnum

Bob Ream was inspired to build a nostalgic racer modernized with a 427 aluminum Dart block, and TREMEC T56 Magnum 6-speed transmission, among other changes. Bob knows something about vintage cars and modernization.  He owns Imagine Injection, Inc. in Glendale, AZ, building Electronic Fuel Injection systems with the look of Weber carburetors of yesterday.  You will…

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Featured Cars

       “Cars Modern Driveline is a part of.” Good morning Bruce, Just wanted to let you know that I finally got to drive the AC…..The gearing feels great, the clutch and shifting are superb!!!  Thanks for all your help on this…   I love that T5!  I’m getting a *huge* increase in miles-per-gallon, due largely to the…

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TRANSMSSION DETAILS: TREMEC T45

The T45 five-speed overdrive transmission was developed primarily for high-performance cars with relatively high-engine torque requirements but is adaptable to other light-duty applications such as sport-utility light trucks. Product Run 1996 – Feb 2001 Ford 4.6L Mustang The Borg-Warner T45 was introduced in 1996 when the Ford 4.6L Modular motor was released.  These transmissions were…

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TREMEC TR3550 5 Speed

TREMEC TR3550 5 Speed overdrive transmission was developed to provide great torque capacity and is ideal for specialty sports cars equipped with high torque engines.   The TREMEC TR3550 5 Speed was both a product and a product line. The product line encompassed the 3550 and TKO models. Each model had two versions. One being…

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TREMEC TR 3650

The TR-3650 five-speed overdrive transmission was developed using state-of-the-art technology and is designed for a wide range of cars and compact utility vehicles.  Currently, the TREMEC TR-3650 is used in the Ford Mustang GT and the BA Falcon.  It was first introduced in 2001 as a replacement for the T-45 five speed.  Produced from 2001-2004…

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TRANSMISSION DETAILS: Terminator Tremec’s T-56 Six-Speed Transmission Upgrade

Tremec’s New T-56 Magnum Is Ready To Make Stronger, Smoother Music In Your ‘Stang Dale Amy September 1, 2009 In the great pecking order of Mustang manual transmissions, six-speed gearboxes such as those factory-installed in ’03-’04 Cobras and current GT500s clearly rule the roost. While most of us had to get by with only five…

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Preview of Pure Vision’s Twin-Turbo 1972 Camaro

Written by Diego Rosenberg on June 19, 2013 Readers of Hot Rod should be familiar with Pure Vision Performance’s reputation for top-notch workmanship and performance. In fact, in our December, 2012 issue, we featured their Road Bee. But what can you expect next from the folks due northwest from Los Angeles? Come November at SEMA 2013, Pure Vision will unveil their first…

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1965 Ford Mustang Fastback Restored

Carla Coleman’s Father Bought This ’65 Fastback Brand-New. She And Husband Jerry Have Rebuilt It Into A Modern Cruiser Donald Farr Former Editor, Mustang Monthly June 1, 2010 Photos By: Jerry Heasley In November 1964, Charles Modesitt placed an order for a Rangoon Red ’65 Mustang fastback. While most buyers chose the new fastback body style…

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Put a Five-Speed in a Big-Block Mustang

Jim Smart May 31, 2016 Modern Driveline was on top of the five-speed conversion game before anyone else with complete five-speed conversion kits and great technical support. These days, the Modern Driveline discussion moves quickly to five- and six-speed conversions for all Mustang generations and a host of other popular marques like Chevy Camaro, Corvette,…

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Modern Driveline’s Bruce Couture Builds This Stunning Fox in the Memory of a Great Friend

Jim Smart May 31, 2016 When Ford introduced the all-new 1979 Mustang in the fall of 1978, few of us believed it would ever be collectible. At the time classic 1965-1973 Mustangs were coming into their own as hot collector cars and they got all the attention. Late model Fox-body Mustangs weren’t even considered Mustangs…

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Modern Driveline’s All-New Hydraulic Clutch Setup for Fox Mustangs

Muscle Mustangs and Fast Fords by Jim Smart Pedal Play: Modern Driveline Makes It Fast & Easy to Get Precision Low-Pedal Resistance Clutch Performance Jim Smart November 1, 2016 Fox-Body Mustangs haven’t been this popular since the 1990s. Sales of these lightweight, good-looking 1979-1993 Stangs haven’t been this brisk in ages. They’re plentiful and cheap,…

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TKO

TREMEC® TKO Transmissions

TREMEC offers several different models of five speed transmissions**, and introduced a new lineup in 2004.  Here is a bit of the history of the TKO line. The manual transmission line of Borg Warner is now owned (since 1998) by Transmission Technologies Corporation (TTC), however, the design remains unchanged between the two transmission lines. Borg Warner transmissions, for…

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TREMEC T56 MAGNUM 6-Speed Transmission

Introduced in the spring of 2009, the TREMEC T-56 Magnum 6-speed manual transmission, was the long-awaited and highly anticipated replacement for the original T-56. Based heavily on the TR-6060, the all-new Magnum took the best of TREMEC’s current OEM design and manufacturing technologies and combined them with the most popular features of their intensely popular TKO 5-speed. The…

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New Product Front Shift T5 Tail housing

Early (mid-1960s and earlier) cars and street rods with their engines and drivetrain sitting back further than today’s cars benefit greatly when the shifter is positioned forward from the standard position offered by the T5 overdrive transmission. MDL is proud to introduce the Front Shift T5 Tailhousing. Designed from the ground up to reproduce the…

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QA1 Carbon Fiber Driveshaft Technology

  Raising the Bar with American-Made Driveshafts     QA1 is redefining industry standards by performing filament winding in-house, – a necessary process to design and produce the correct torsional stiffness specifications for world-class carbon fiber driveshafts. It is imperative to have control over the entire filament winding process, and by having the specialized equipment…

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How the TREMEC T56 MAGNUM 6-Speed transmission is improved.

The improvement is in the Beef The kingpin of TREMEC’s high-performance line-up, the all-new T56 Magnum 6-speed transmission takes the very best from current OEM technologies and pairs it with the most popular features of the all-business TKO & TKX 5-speeds. Able to withstand a massive 700 lb-ft. of torque, while providing unbelievably crisp shifts. No other…

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Tremec Toolbox App

Designed for iOS and Android smartphones, this app will help you plan your project. The TREMEC Toolbox App for iOS and Android smartphones will help you simplify driveline setup, predict the effects of changing gear ratios and tire size, and calculate vehicle speed and RPM variables.   TREMEC Toolbox     Newly updated to version…

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Classic Mustang Five Speed Transmission Swap

Swapping a five-speed transmission into an early Mustang, Falcon, Cougar, or almost any early Ford could not be any easier these days. Many of the five-speed transmissions found in late model Mustangs can be installed with little modification. 1965 – 66 Mustang For a 1965 – 1966 Mustang we recommend a T5 transmission for engines…

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Sunbeam Tiger TKX

Stealthy Overdrive From MDL No One Knows It’s There but You Modern Driveline’s TREMEC  new & improved TKX 5-speed is engineered to fit your Sunbeam Tiger without cutting or modifying the tunnel. You get durability surpassing Ford’s legendary Top Loader four-speed with vastly improved fuel consumption. You get brute performance in gears one through four…

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Installation Article of a T5 into a 1967 Mustang

The June 2008 edition of Mustang and Fords features a 6 page article detailing Modern Driveline’s T5 conversion of a ’67 Mustang. Author and photographer Wayne Cook details the parts and the process to convert a classic Mustang from a 4-speed to a 5-speed overdrive transmission. As Wayne writes “On the other hand, if you believe your Mustang was born to run on the open roads, then the addition of Overdrive will convert your classic Ford from a freeway buzz bomb into a quiet, smooth vehicle that can accomplish a 500-mile day with ease”

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